SSC Exam » Banking Instruments – SDR

Banking Instruments – SDR

SDR is a reserve asset used internationally and it was created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1969. To know more about it, read the article

Introduction

SDR is short for Special Drawing Rights, which is a unique form of currency used by the International Monetary Fund. SDRs were created in 1969 as a way to supplement global reserve currencies. Today, SDRs are used as a unit of account by the IMF and some other international organizations.

What is SDR?

Special Drawing Rights is an international reserve asset, brought up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1969, that acts as a supplement to member countries’ official reserves. SDRs are allocated to members in proportion to their IMF quota subscriptions. Its value is based on five major currencies—the U.S. dollar, the Chinese renminbi, the euro,  the Japanese yen, and the British pound sterling.

Who created SDR?

The SDR was created by the IMF in 1969 to support the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates that existed from 1946 to 1973. SDRs were originally created to help countries address Balance of Payments (BOP) difficulties.

Role of SDR

SDRs are an international reserve asset, meaning that they can be used to settle international payments and as collateral for borrowing. SDRs are also the unit of account of the IMF.

The SDR is an important part of the global financial system and its role continues to grow. For example:

– SDRs are used as part of the Special Drawing Rights Department ( SDRD) of the World Bank. The SDRD helps countries with development needs

– In 2009, an agreement was reached to create a global reserve currency known as SDR-denominated bonds. These bonds are issued by the IMF and can be held by central banks and other official institutions.

-SDRs are an important tool for the IMF and World Bank to support global economic stability and growth.

What are the requirements of SDRs ?

In order to qualify as an SDR, a currency must:

– be issued by a central bank or monetary authority

– be included in the IMF’s Conventional Monetary Instruments Database

– have a freely usable market in transactions involving private parties and international organizations.

The SDR was created by the International Monetary Fund in 1969 to supplement member countries’ official reserves. SDRs can be used to settle international payments and as collateral in financial transactions.

The SDR is an important reserve asset for the IMF and other international organizations. As of September 2017, SDRs accounted for about $285 billion of global foreign exchange reserves or about 20 per cent of total global reserves. SDRs are also used by the IMF and other international organizations to make loans to member countries. SDRs are not a currency as such, but rather a claim on the currencies of IMF member countries. The value of an SDR is based on five major currencies: the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Chinese yuan, the Japanese yen and the British pound. The SDR basket is reviewed every five years and can be adjusted if a currency becomes significantly under- or over-valued.

What are the benefits of SDR?

– It provides a way to value currencies that might otherwise not have a market.

– It helps stabilize global financial markets by providing a reserve asset that can be used in times of crisis.

– It promotes international cooperation by providing a unit of account for transactions between IMF member countries.

Conclusion

SDR is a unique form of currency that can be used to settle international payments. It’s been gaining in popularity in recent years as more and more countries adopt it. If you’re studying finance or economics, it’s important to understand what an SDR is and how it works.